“Do you have a boyfriend?” Shari asked.
“Yes. He runs a nightclub. I miss him very much. That’s who I was just thinking about.”
“Awful to be away from him.”
“Could be worse. I could be alone in the world. I know I have him back when I get out of here.”
Before Shari could say anything else, someone barged in the front door. Shari shoved Alia off her chair. She landed on the ground as bullets sprayed around her. Shari jerked, then didn’t move.
Shit. She was dead. Alia couldn’t see who had been shooting, but someone else was bleeding in the doorway to the kitchen. She peeked around the chair. The person wasn’t moving and they’d dropped their gun.
She didn’t hear anyone else in the place so she tiptoed out of the kitchen, stepping over the gunman. In the hall, she saw the other cop, Farrell or something, leaning against the wall. She raced to him.
“Your phone is in the drawer of the end table in the living room,” he said.
He had blood coming out of his mouth.
“Okay.”
“Get it and get out of here. Go to a police station. There’s one in the next block. Tell them to call my CO.”
“Who is your CO?”
He gave her the name and she left. She called 911 about a shooting, so an ambulance would be on the way. Shari was probably dead and Alia’s heart broke for the young woman.
Out on the street, Alia’s gaze darted around. She didn’t think anyone was watching her. She had a hoodie on so she put the hood over her head. It was just chilly enough to get away with it. Rain spit down on her, so she hoped no one would look at her.
She found the police station but two men were waiting outside. Her instincts said that something was wrong so she went the other way. As far as she could tell, no one followed her. She had some money in her pocket, so she went to a museum. No one came in after her. She stood watching the door for a few minutes, just in case.
No one seemed interested in her, so she moved further into the building. She hoped she would have cell service.
She found a spot on another floor by a window and waited until no one else was in the room.
Then she made a phone call and heard the voice that she’d been dying to hear.
“Alia?”
***
Viktor had never expected to hear from Alia. Her voice could not have sounded sweeter. He’d just gotten off the phone with the detectives who told him that Alia was missing. They’d told him about what they found at the safe house.
His blood had been chilled and he’d yelled at the police officer. He’d have to call back and apologize. But not right now.
Now he had Alia on the phone.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“They said there was shooting. I was so worried that you might have been hurt.”
“No, I think the young cop took my bullets. It was nasty, Viktor.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at a police station.”
“Okay.”
She seemed hesitant to tell him. “Tell me so I can come get you.”
“I’m afraid, Viktor.”
“Don’t be. I’ve promised that I would take care of you. You know how I feel. Let me help.”
He’d done a better job than the cops. No one had tried to enter his abode until the fire. That must have been dumb luck on the part of Yuri. Viktor was pretty sure that he hadn’t planned it, but used it as an opportunity. What happened at the safe house sounded like carnage.
He wasn’t going to trust the police anymore. He’d been wrong to do it in the first place, but he’d been desperate. Now he needed to get Alia. Hold her. Make sure she was in one piece. Then find her a new place to stay.
He knew the place. He picked it because of its excellent security.
“Okay.”
She told him the address.
“Are you with a cop?” Viktor asked.
“No, I don’t know who to trust, other than you.”
That warmed him. She trusted him. She loved him and trusted him. He wished he could be there right now. No travel time. He wouldn’t feel right until she was in his arms. Safe.
Because only he could protect her. He’d been on the sidelines too long. Just coasting. He would take action now. He’d waited too long.
Then he and Alia would be free.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” he said.
He disconnected. When he went downstairs, he found Arkady. The man had been a little lost since Alia had left.
“Good news. We’re going to get Alia,” Viktor said.
The two had become friends. If he didn’t trust Alia, he would have been jealous. But she was his. Of that, he was certain.
Arkady’s face lit up. “I’m in.”
The climbed into his car when it came around. Viktor called Alia when they arrived. “We’re in the parking lot in the back. There’s an alley beside the building.”
“I’ll be there.”
She was breathless when she opened the door. She jumped into Viktor’s lap and he held her tighter than he’d ever held anyone. He buried his face in her hair and took in her scent. This was his woman and no one else could protect her the way he could.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“For what?”
She looked up at him with her big eyes.
“For letting you go. You’re my responsibility,” Viktor said. “I never should have let you go with the cops.”
“We both thought it best. Don’t beat yourself up, Viktor. I’m fine. I’m safe.”
“I’m taking you someplace safer than the cops had,” he said.
Then he had business to handle. As much as he wanted to stay with her, he’d leave her in good hands. He’d arranged it. She’d be fine until he was done and then he could bring her home.
They’d redecorate. Buy furniture. Put down roots. Or if she wanted a house, he’d buy a house. Didn’t matter as long as he was with her. As long as she was in his life and in his bed.
“Where are we doing?”
She was still on his lap. He wasn’t letting her go until he had to.
“You’ll see. Trust me on this,” he said.
“I trust you.”
He smiled then kissed her nose as they drove through the streets of Manhattan.
“You want to talk about what happened?”
“I’m not even sure. I was talking to the female cop, then we were on the ground. She was shot. The gunman had been killed. I called 911 then got out of there. I didn’t think that anyone followed me.”
“I didn’t see anyone hanging out while we waited for you,” Viktor said.
He’d been keeping an eye out as had Arkady. He wasn’t going to take any chances. He needed to keep Alia safe. .
Now was not the time to talk about it. Emotions were running high. Even his. As relieved as he was to have Alia back, she was still in danger. He’d take care of that. He should have in the beginning. This should all be done by now.
“You didn’t hear anything before that point?”
“No. I didn’t. I’ve been going over it in my mind and no, there was no warning. It just happened and then I escaped.”
He squeezed her hand. She was here. Safe. His. He wasn’t going to give over the responsibility of protecting her to anyone else. He’d been doing a fine job and now he was back.
He would put her some place safe and take care of this situation the way the cops were unable to. He cursed himself for not paying more attention. For not taking action. He’d been getting sedentary, enjoying his money.
Alia was too important to him for him to sit on the sidelines. No longer. He’d never been one to rely on anyone else to get the real work done. When they pulled into the garage for his mother’s building, Alia’s eyes went wide.
She sat up, turning to look at him.
He put her face in his hands. “Trust me.”
*
Alia truste
d Viktor with her life, but she wasn’t happy about being back with his mother. She, Arkady, and Viktor rode the elevator up to the proper floor. Alia’s heart fluttered in her chest. His mother had made it clear when they had visited the first time, that she did not like Viktor’s girlfriend.
That made this situation untenable. How long would she have to stay here? As much as she wanted to be safe, she didn’t want to deal with his mother. She was overbearing.
Viktor held her hand the whole trip up. “I promise that this will be okay. This building has the best security of anyone I know. Plus Arkady will be here. At the very least, he’ll be a buffer between you and my mother.”
“You’re sure your mother isn’t going to call the Mafia once you’re gone? Tell them to come get me?”
Viktor chuckled. “My mother knows better. I’ve told her that she needs to do this and she will. I promise.”
Alia frowned. This was not going to be fun. She tended to stay away from people who didn’t like her. This time she had no choice. She’d make the best of it, but she wasn’t sure how that was going to happen.
Svetlana had made up her mind about Alia. Whenever that happened, Alia knew it was hard to change that perception.
Was it because she was black? Alia had no idea, but she’d have to get to the root of the problem. If this was just about her not being white then she could do nothing to change Svetlana’s mind. If it was something else, then maybe she had a shot.
Svetlana let them in, this time she at least looked at Alia. The woman was less formally dressed than she had been when they’d come for dinner.
“Hello Viktor.” She kissed her son. The she greeted Arkady with a kiss on the cheek.
“Be nice, Mother,” Viktor said.
“Hello, Alia.”
Svetlana led them to the living room.
“I’ll have some clothes sent her for Alia,” Viktor said. “I’ll be back at dinner. You want me to bring something? Go to the grocery store?”
“Suddenly I’m an invalid?” his mother said.
“I know that Alia being here is an inconvenience. I’m trying to ease the burden.”
“It’s fine Viktor. Go run your nightclub. Arkady and I will take care of Alia. I can cook us dinner,” Svetlana said.
He eyed her, kissed Alia then left. Alia didn’t have any idea how she as going to pass the time. She hadn’t brought any books. Arkady paced around the apartment then settled on the couch.
Svetlana looked at Alia as if she had no idea what to do with her. “I understand you’re in school. I have a computer you can use.”
She led her to a room with shelves filled with books. In one corner was a desktop. That would work. She did have a paper due which she wasn’t sure she’d get written.
“Thank you.”
Svetlana nodded, turning away. She paused then turned back to Alia. “I’m very protective of my boys. I’ve been spoiled up until this point and I haven’t really had to share them. You’re the first one that Viktor has brought to see me. I didn’t react well and I’m sorry. I was jealous.”
She left Alia pondering her words. How could she have been jealous of Alia? At that point, Viktor hadn’t expressed his feelings. Had his mother known? Had she realized that Alia was the one that was turning Viktor’s head? Alia hadn’t even known that at the time. In fact, she was not sure of how she felt about Viktor.
Alia booted up the computer, but stared at the screen for a few minutes thinking about what Svetlana had said. She shook herself, then got down to work. A half an hour later, Svetlana came in with some tea.
“You’ve been working hard. I figured you might need a boost.”
She put down a mug in front of Alia.
“Thanks.”
“What class are you taking?”
“This is just an introductory English class. Composition. Not as hard as I thought it might be.”
Was she actually interested in what Alia was doing? Or was she at least being polite? Either way, Alia would take it. Better than the bitter woman she’d dealt with last time.
“What degree do you want to get?”
“Accounting. I’m good with numbers.”
“Viktor told me that you sing? He said he’s had you sing at his club?”
“I do. I only sang because he asked me to. He liked my singing.”
“He also said that you might have an agent?”
“I just signed with one,” Alia said.
Did Viktor actually talk about her to his mother?
“How exciting.”
“Yes, it will be, once this whole murder investigation is over.”
“This must be a drain on you. You’d like to get on with your life.”
She was being surprisingly understanding. Had Viktor talked to her or, like Sacha, was she having a change of heart? “Yes, I would. Does Viktor talk to you about me?”
“He does. We talk at least once a week and his end of the conversation is about you. He’d never talked to me about any woman. Ever. Alia, you must be something special.”
She beamed as she sipped her tea. “Well, you’ve raised a wonderful son Mrs. Kozlov. He’s every good to me. I want you to know that I appreciate all that he has done. I could never repay him for his kindness.”
“He doesn’t need repayment. He just needs loyalty.”
“He has that.”
“Good.”
Svetlana rose. “I’ll let you get back to your work. Viktor said that you were trying to cook when you set off the smoke detectors.”
That was a mild version of the story. “Yes. I can cook some food, but not anything else.”
“I’ll teach you to cook Viktor’s favorite meal.”
“You’d do that?”
“Yes, I would, Alia. I have to make amends for my behavior.”
***
Viktor’s first stop was to see Detective Lewis. The man worked at a desk in a room filled with them. Phones rang and Viktor had no idea how the man got anything done. The noise alone had Viktor unsettled. It was why he didn’t often go into his own nightclub. Too much going on.
That’s why he’d lived alone for so long. No woman had been able to handle the quiet of his place. Alia was the first.
“Mr. Kozlov,” Lewis said, standing. “Let’s go find some place quieter to talk.”
Viktor followed him into what he assumed was an interrogation room. Lewis closed the door behind them. “What can I help you with?”
“I have a proposal that might bring this case to an end sooner.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’m going to contact the head of the Russian Mafia. I’ll meet with him.”
“That’s dangerous. I can’t have anything to do with that.”
“I’m going to see him whether I have your blessing or not. Wouldn’t you rather be there to protect me? So I’m not a murder statistic in this precinct?”
The man’s mouth moved, but no sound came out for a moment. He was clearly pondering what Viktor had said. Viktor had every intention of doing this. He had to get them off Alia’s back. The cops hadn’t been able to do it.
“Okay.”
Good. “I will wear the wire and do what you tell me, but I have to see this man.”
“What if you don’t make it out alive?” Lewis said.
“Doesn’t matter; Alia will be safe.”
Lewis blinked at him. “I’ve never seen a man go this far for any woman.”
“Then you have never seen a man as in love with a woman as I am. If I die, she inherits it all. She will live well for many years.”
“Here’s the game plan.”
Lewis outlined what was going to happen. Viktor’s only concern was getting in to see the Mafia head For that he’d need Oleg, a man he was sure had more connections to the Mafia then he admitted.
He met with Oleg at his downtown office. Once again, in the high rise. Too many people in one small place. Maybe he should think about getting out of Manhattan. Open a club somewhere els
e. He’d hit the major world cities. He could branch out.
A thought for another day.
Since it was a weekday, Oleg’s secretary was there. Looking at her, Viktor knew why she’d been hired. She had the longest legs he’d ever seen. The brightest smile and the largest boobs.
She couldn’t hold a candle to Alia in his eyes, but Viktor could admire what Oleg must see in her.
“He’ll be right with you, Mr. Kozlov.”
Viktor waited in a plush chair for Oleg’s secretary to let him in. Oleg was making him wait. It was all part of the game. Viktor could be patient. This had all been going on for weeks, what was a few more minutes.
As anxious as he was to get this done, he had to look at the big picture. He would have Alia to himself. They could do whatever they wanted and he could take her to see his other clubs. He could take her all over the world, if he wanted.
He had so many places he wanted to show her. Things he wanted to do with her. He could show her the world and all the things in it he loved.
He’d buy her a house in every country. He didn’t care about the money. It didn’t mean that much to him anymore, but now that he had someone to share it with, he’d spend more of it.
However much she wanted. He could make more.
Oleg finally agreed to see him. Viktor sat in the same buttery, leather chair. Oleg had his hands flat on his desk as if braced for the worst.
“Viktor, you are looking healthy.”
“You, too, Oleg. Life is treating you well?”
Viktor would do the dance because Oleg could escort him out of here without the information. Oleg knew this.
“Yes it is, Viktor.”
“My sobirayemsya igrat' v igry?”
Oleg chuckled “Yes we are going to play a game today. I’m not sure why you are here, but twice in one month is too often.”
“I’m looking to set up a meeting.”
“With whom?”
“The head of the Russian mafia.”
Oleg leaned back into his chair. “Why come to me?”
“You are playing games. I know that you have more of a connection to them than you let on. I don’t care about that, other than for my own use. I need to speak with him.”
“Pavel Nepomnishy is a hard man to get hold of.”
“Let’s not play those games, Oleg. I don’t care about your connection to him. As a businessman, I want to buy the best vodka and will purchase it from you. What I want now is to see Nepomnishy.”
Her Russian Billionaires - The Complete Billionaire Romance Collection Page 18